Death in Paradise
1x01 Episode 1
That was really rather good. Nice Agatha Christie vibe, which I don't think you get too often these days. Also, genuinely surprising ending that I didn't see coming in the slightest. Well done, don't see that often/ever.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x04 Episode 4
Loved the fill-in-the-blank YouTube comment round! More please.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x26 (19/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 31 October 2011
Films
X-Men (2000)
[5th or so watch]
This was the first film I ever saw twice in the cinema -- I've loved X-Men ever since the early '90s animated series captured my imagination, and this was everything I'd wanted from a long-hoped-for movie version. I don't think it'd be too wrong to credit its success with kicking off the huge popularity of superhero movies that we're still very much living through.
Over a decade on from its original release, I still think the first movie is brilliant, though First Class may've supplanted it as my favourite of the series now. I never loved X2 quite as much as everyone else, so I'm very interested to see what I think tomorrow -- it's been a good few years (five or six) since I watched any of the first trilogy, so re-evaluation is a real possibility.
[5th or so watch]
This was the first film I ever saw twice in the cinema -- I've loved X-Men ever since the early '90s animated series captured my imagination, and this was everything I'd wanted from a long-hoped-for movie version. I don't think it'd be too wrong to credit its success with kicking off the huge popularity of superhero movies that we're still very much living through.
Over a decade on from its original release, I still think the first movie is brilliant, though First Class may've supplanted it as my favourite of the series now. I never loved X2 quite as much as everyone else, so I'm very interested to see what I think tomorrow -- it's been a good few years (five or six) since I watched any of the first trilogy, so re-evaluation is a real possibility.
Comics
Nightwing #2 by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows
The plot thickens... which is always good for a second issue! Glad I followed the reviews to pick this series up, it's a good solid superhero book.
The plot thickens... which is always good for a second issue! Glad I followed the reviews to pick this series up, it's a good solid superhero book.
Articles
Jack The Ripper in the 23rd century: 21-plus unexpectedly scary episodes of not-so-scary TV shows by Erik Adams, Meredith Blake, Marah Eakin, Zack Handlen, Will Harris, Noel Murray, Phil Nugent, Sean O'Neal, Carrie Raisler, Tasha Robinson, John Semley, David Sims & Todd VanDerWerff
(from A.V. Club)
That is, to clarify, scary episodes of series that aren't usually scary. Not sure I've even heard of most of them, but interesting nonetheless. Plus, Doctor Who's Blink is in there. (Presumably it's quite a long list because all those writers wanted their say...)
Mark Millar: I want my films to do for Scotland what Lord Of The Rings did for New Zealand by Matt Bendoris
(from The Scottish Sun)
Key point: comic book writer Mark Millar is launching his own production company, aiming to adapt some more of his own comics, largely set in Scotland. Many more details at the link -- it's a surprisingly long and involved article considering it's from The Sun.
(from A.V. Club)
That is, to clarify, scary episodes of series that aren't usually scary. Not sure I've even heard of most of them, but interesting nonetheless. Plus, Doctor Who's Blink is in there. (Presumably it's quite a long list because all those writers wanted their say...)
Mark Millar: I want my films to do for Scotland what Lord Of The Rings did for New Zealand by Matt Bendoris
(from The Scottish Sun)
Key point: comic book writer Mark Millar is launching his own production company, aiming to adapt some more of his own comics, largely set in Scotland. Many more details at the link -- it's a surprisingly long and involved article considering it's from The Sun.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
TV
Have I Got News For You
42x02 (21/10/11 edition; extended repeat)
The coincidence of which editions Alexander Armstrong has hosted in the past few years is quite incredible.
Pointless
3x25 (18/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x06 Episode 6 [series finale]
So here we are -- after 10 years, 86 episodes, and almost every main character dying (seriously, although two of the original three leads escaped alive, almost every other main character has been killed off), Spooks comes to an end. It long ago fell from the heights of its realism-based early years, if you ask me -- anyone remember the whole episode Danny spent mulling over whether it was OK to assassinate someone? They did that kind of thing in a heartbeat in later years -- it remained a decent enough spy thriller/action series to the end.
Indeed, the final episode was one of the best for a while, with a genuinely tense climax -- the benefit of it being the last-ever episode I suppose, in which Anything Can Happen more readily than in a regular episode. Great cameo in the closing moments too, though it's a shame they didn't use him a bit more. I also think it ended on pretty much the right note at the very end. Job well done, Kudos.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
42x02 (21/10/11 edition; extended repeat)
The coincidence of which editions Alexander Armstrong has hosted in the past few years is quite incredible.
Pointless
3x25 (18/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x06 Episode 6 [series finale]
So here we are -- after 10 years, 86 episodes, and almost every main character dying (seriously, although two of the original three leads escaped alive, almost every other main character has been killed off), Spooks comes to an end. It long ago fell from the heights of its realism-based early years, if you ask me -- anyone remember the whole episode Danny spent mulling over whether it was OK to assassinate someone? They did that kind of thing in a heartbeat in later years -- it remained a decent enough spy thriller/action series to the end.
Indeed, the final episode was one of the best for a while, with a genuinely tense climax -- the benefit of it being the last-ever episode I suppose, in which Anything Can Happen more readily than in a regular episode. Great cameo in the closing moments too, though it's a shame they didn't use him a bit more. I also think it ended on pretty much the right note at the very end. Job well done, Kudos.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
[2nd watch]
Probably the most-derided of the X-Men films, I actually quite liked this. In part, I'd already heard all the dreadful reviews before I went in, so my expectations were probably suitably lowered. I haven't watched it since that first cinema viewing (two-and-a-half years ago, when it was #23 in 100 Films 2009), and seeing it again on Blu-ray I still don't think it's too bad. OK, it has some awful CGI, a miscast Gambit, bastardised Deadpool, and a pile of clichés, but despite that...
[2nd watch]
Probably the most-derided of the X-Men films, I actually quite liked this. In part, I'd already heard all the dreadful reviews before I went in, so my expectations were probably suitably lowered. I haven't watched it since that first cinema viewing (two-and-a-half years ago, when it was #23 in 100 Films 2009), and seeing it again on Blu-ray I still don't think it's too bad. OK, it has some awful CGI, a miscast Gambit, bastardised Deadpool, and a pile of clichés, but despite that...
Comics
Nightwing #1 by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows
The final addition to my regular reads from DC's New 52, because apparently it's very good -- well, it is -- and apparently is going to be quite closely connected to what's going on in Batman. Don't know about the latter yet, but as one features someone out to kill Bruce Wayne (not Batman) and this features someone out to kill Dick Grayson (not Nightwing), I can see the potential for a link. Mind you, if they're not connected then these writers ought to talk to each other more.
The final addition to my regular reads from DC's New 52, because apparently it's very good -- well, it is -- and apparently is going to be quite closely connected to what's going on in Batman. Don't know about the latter yet, but as one features someone out to kill Bruce Wayne (not Batman) and this features someone out to kill Dick Grayson (not Nightwing), I can see the potential for a link. Mind you, if they're not connected then these writers ought to talk to each other more.
Articles
The Lists: Top 10 scary PG-rated films by Guy Lodge
(from HitFix)
Rather than the regular "greatest horror movie" Halloween list, HitFix instead takes a look at the ten most frightening family 'friendly' movies. And some of them are properly scary too.
Halloween treats from the Ebert Club! by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
That title's completely irrelevant, but still, that's what it's called. Anyway, this is about sweded films -- that's no-budget home-made abridged/parody versions of well-known movies. The term comes from Be Kind Rewind, as I'm sure you'll know if you've seen it (I rather liked it, incidentally), and it's gone on to be quite a big cult -- there's a Swede Fest, for instance, which is what this article is about. There's a very impressive swede of The Avengers trailer there as an example, and you can see just how good it is on the side-by-side comparison.
(from HitFix)
Rather than the regular "greatest horror movie" Halloween list, HitFix instead takes a look at the ten most frightening family 'friendly' movies. And some of them are properly scary too.
Halloween treats from the Ebert Club! by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
That title's completely irrelevant, but still, that's what it's called. Anyway, this is about sweded films -- that's no-budget home-made abridged/parody versions of well-known movies. The term comes from Be Kind Rewind, as I'm sure you'll know if you've seen it (I rather liked it, incidentally), and it's gone on to be quite a big cult -- there's a Swede Fest, for instance, which is what this article is about. There's a very impressive swede of The Avengers trailer there as an example, and you can see just how good it is on the side-by-side comparison.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
The Damned (1963)
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Plus, as it's Halloween tomorrow, a review of the final Saw film will be available after midnight here.
More next Sunday.
The Damned (1963)
an interesting film, but one that is perhaps somewhat undercut by its age; a kind of ’60s SF that would probably require a distinctly different approach if you were to attempt to make it today. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it has that kind of disconnect from reality that’s markedly ’60s.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Many other Disney films have stand-out sequences; things to latch an appreciation on to. The best often have several of these stacked up, in some cases non-stop from start to finish. The Princess and the Frog is missing anything like that, but what it has instead is a very consistent tone, where the musical numbers fit effortlessly into the flow of the story rather than stopping the film for a showpiece.
Plus, as it's Halloween tomorrow, a review of the final Saw film will be available after midnight here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
TV
The Jonathan Ross Show
1x08 (22/10/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x05 His Father's Son
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x08 (22/10/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x05 His Father's Son
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
X-Men: First Class (2011)
[2nd watch]
I saw this in the cinema back in June, making it #60 for this year's 100 Films, but the picture and sound quality were so wretched that I've waited until now to watch it again on Blu-ray (officially out Monday) before reviewing it. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
[2nd watch]
I saw this in the cinema back in June, making it #60 for this year's 100 Films, but the picture and sound quality were so wretched that I've waited until now to watch it again on Blu-ray (officially out Monday) before reviewing it. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
Articles
Isn’t It About Time You Gave Mirrormask Another Chance? by Lee Harris
(from SFX)
I've never seen MirrorMask. I think it's about time I gave it a chance. I have it on DVD... somewhere...
Minecraft awarded GameCity videogame arts prize by Leo Kelion
(from BBC News)
Interesting views on how gaming has become more widespread, thanks to Normal People playing them on smartphones, etc. "I think that technology is a real red herring. What technology is driving forward is the ability for games to look more real... I don't think that is in itself something that makes them art. Otherwise we wouldn't cry at Bambi." And so on.
(from SFX)
I've never seen MirrorMask. I think it's about time I gave it a chance. I have it on DVD... somewhere...
Minecraft awarded GameCity videogame arts prize by Leo Kelion
(from BBC News)
Interesting views on how gaming has become more widespread, thanks to Normal People playing them on smartphones, etc. "I think that technology is a real red herring. What technology is driving forward is the ability for games to look more real... I don't think that is in itself something that makes them art. Otherwise we wouldn't cry at Bambi." And so on.
Friday, 28 October 2011
TV
QI
9x07 Incomprehensible (XL edition)
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Spy
1x02 Codename: Tramp
This is too good to be on Sky.
Top Gear USA
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
9x07 Incomprehensible (XL edition)
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Spy
1x02 Codename: Tramp
This is too good to be on Sky.
Top Gear USA
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #1753
And the ECBT 2000AD reviews are...
visual review
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Elusive Part 01
Ampney Crucis Investigates... The English Assassin Part Four
Indigo Prime Everything and More Part Four
Angel Zero Part 03
Low Life The Deal Part 4 Still not liking Indigo Prime, but everything else is great, especially Low Life.
And the ECBT 2000AD reviews are...
Articles
Micro-budget film is back with Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing by Ben Child
(from Film Blog at the Guardian)
Not much that hasn't been covered in other articles I've linked to, I don't think, but it's almost worth it just for the final paragraph's image of Michael Bay.
(from Film Blog at the Guardian)
Not much that hasn't been covered in other articles I've linked to, I don't think, but it's almost worth it just for the final paragraph's image of Michael Bay.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A couple of new titles this week, plus the removal of a DVD I upgraded to BD ages ago and then forgot to ditch.
The big episode count boost is thanks to getting the complete '90s X-Men animated series on DVD. I've been waiting for this for a long, long time, so I'm very happy.
Also, X-Men: First Class on Blu-ray! I'm fairly ecstatic. (Sorry.)
Number of titles in collection: 1,395 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,141 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 254 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,469 [up 22]
Number of films in collection: 1,482 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,270 [up 76]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A couple of new titles this week, plus the removal of a DVD I upgraded to BD ages ago and then forgot to ditch.
The big episode count boost is thanks to getting the complete '90s X-Men animated series on DVD. I've been waiting for this for a long, long time, so I'm very happy.
Also, X-Men: First Class on Blu-ray! I'm fairly ecstatic. (Sorry.)
Number of titles in collection: 1,395 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,141 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 254 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,469 [up 22]
Number of films in collection: 1,482 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,270 [up 76]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 27 October 2011
TV
Christ on a bike, where has this week gone?! It feels like only yesterday (well, the day before yesterday, if I'm honest) that I was watching the first Joanna Lumley.
And I haven't watched Misfits for a week and a half, but it feels like less time than I paused between episodes one & two and three, which was only six days. (I know, you're fascinated to know this.)
I think my body clock needs winding...
The Graham Norton Show
10x01 (21/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Great British Bake Off
2x11 Revisited [season finale]
Not revisiting the just-finished series two, but looking back to series one. Indeed, I'm quite glad I didn't watch the first series in a way, because this was just a recap/highlights with a few new comments and a couple of "where are they now"s.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey
Episode 2 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Perfect Couples
1x07 Perfect House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
And I haven't watched Misfits for a week and a half, but it feels like less time than I paused between episodes one & two and three, which was only six days. (I know, you're fascinated to know this.)
I think my body clock needs winding...
The Graham Norton Show
10x01 (21/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Great British Bake Off
2x11 Revisited [season finale]
Not revisiting the just-finished series two, but looking back to series one. Indeed, I'm quite glad I didn't watch the first series in a way, because this was just a recap/highlights with a few new comments and a couple of "where are they now"s.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey
Episode 2 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Perfect Couples
1x07 Perfect House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Brad Bird Explains Why We Haven’t Seen an Incredibles Sequel Yet by Kevin Melrose
(from Spinoff Online at Comic Book Resources)
Because he doesn't have an idea for one, essentially. Which is fine -- I loved The Incredibles and would love a sequel, but there's no point if it's just for the sake of some easy cash.
The Science and Future of 3D Films, With Legend3D Founder, COO and CTO Dr. Barry Sandrew
Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Mark Hughes
(from Forbes)
This interview/polemic has an irritatingly fawning tone and a loose interpretation of some facts -- see in particular Sandrew and Hughes' dubious analysis of some figures at the bottom of part 2 page 1 -- but it's nonetheless interesting thanks to its inside-the-industry perspective.
(from Spinoff Online at Comic Book Resources)
Because he doesn't have an idea for one, essentially. Which is fine -- I loved The Incredibles and would love a sequel, but there's no point if it's just for the sake of some easy cash.
The Science and Future of 3D Films, With Legend3D Founder, COO and CTO Dr. Barry Sandrew
Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Mark Hughes
(from Forbes)
This interview/polemic has an irritatingly fawning tone and a loose interpretation of some facts -- see in particular Sandrew and Hughes' dubious analysis of some figures at the bottom of part 2 page 1 -- but it's nonetheless interesting thanks to its inside-the-industry perspective.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
TV
Pointless
3x24 (15/10/10 edition)
They put a shot of the four-team round one in the middle of the three-team round two! Shocking behaviour.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x24 (15/10/10 edition)
They put a shot of the four-team round one in the middle of the three-team round two! Shocking behaviour.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
Batman #2 by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
Proper detective work, proper action, a whole heap of story and subplots too, plus Capullo's style is growing on me a lot. It's only 20 pages long, but those pages are so expertly used that it feels a lot longer -- where other books feel brief at this length, Snyder's Batman feels like it's an extra-long (for modern comics) issue. And that's obviously a good thing.
For more praise that I agree with, see CBR's review. "This is the sort of issue you could drop into anyone’s hand, no matter their level of knowledge or involvement, and make them a fan for life."
Proper detective work, proper action, a whole heap of story and subplots too, plus Capullo's style is growing on me a lot. It's only 20 pages long, but those pages are so expertly used that it feels a lot longer -- where other books feel brief at this length, Snyder's Batman feels like it's an extra-long (for modern comics) issue. And that's obviously a good thing.
For more praise that I agree with, see CBR's review. "This is the sort of issue you could drop into anyone’s hand, no matter their level of knowledge or involvement, and make them a fan for life."
Articles
Downton Abbey bosses hit back at critics over 'ludicrous' storylines claims by Simon Boyle
(from Mirror)
Downton Abbey is not a soap because it gets incredibly high ratings and "combines comedy, romance and tension around 20 characters"? OK, if you say so...
New Mission: Impossible Poster Online by James White
(from Empire)
Or, as the poster seems very very keen for you to call it, Ghost Protocol. How small is that Mission: Impossible logo?! Especially relative to what is, technically, the subtitle. Bizarre. Obviously someone in the film's marketing has decided the M:I name is the opposite of a selling point.
Click to enlarge.
Steven Spielberg discusses Jurassic Park 4 and Indiana Jones 5 by Venkman
(from Geektyrant)
JP4 is on the scriptwriting stage and George Lucas is still developing a story for Indy 5... but never mind that, because what's most interesting here is what he has to say about the last Indy film:
Unofficial Title Sequence for The Adventures of Tintin by Gig Patta
(from LatinoReview)
There's more to that title than meets the eye, though: the director/producer of Tintin, who is no less than Steven Spielberg of course, saw the video and liked it enough to invite its maker to the premiere... and give him a job on the next movie. Well crikey!
In case you don't fancy following the link, here it is:
(from Mirror)
Downton Abbey is not a soap because it gets incredibly high ratings and "combines comedy, romance and tension around 20 characters"? OK, if you say so...
New Mission: Impossible Poster Online by James White
(from Empire)
Or, as the poster seems very very keen for you to call it, Ghost Protocol. How small is that Mission: Impossible logo?! Especially relative to what is, technically, the subtitle. Bizarre. Obviously someone in the film's marketing has decided the M:I name is the opposite of a selling point.
Click to enlarge.
Steven Spielberg discusses Jurassic Park 4 and Indiana Jones 5 by Venkman
(from Geektyrant)
JP4 is on the scriptwriting stage and George Lucas is still developing a story for Indy 5... but never mind that, because what's most interesting here is what he has to say about the last Indy film:
I never liked the MacGuffin. George and I had big arguments about the MacGuffin. I didn't want these things to be either aliens or inter-dimensional beings.More just-as-interesting comments at the link.
Unofficial Title Sequence for The Adventures of Tintin by Gig Patta
(from LatinoReview)
There's more to that title than meets the eye, though: the director/producer of Tintin, who is no less than Steven Spielberg of course, saw the video and liked it enough to invite its maker to the premiere... and give him a job on the next movie. Well crikey!
In case you don't fancy following the link, here it is:
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
TV
Ask Rhod Gilbert
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x03 Charity Case
Pointless
3x23 (1/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x03 Charity Case
Pointless
3x23 (1/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
Judge Dredd Megazine #313
That story that was on part seven last time? I give up. It makes no sense. Maybe if I'd been reading since the start... But no, I'm not wasting my time. It's called Numbercruncher, if you happen to care.
As for the others, to refer to them as I did last time: the Dredd was a two-parter that ends here, though leaves an intriguing Big Thing set up for the future. Look forward to that coming back. The one that was on part two (now three, obviously) is Samizdat Squad, and while I can follow it I don't especially care for it.
Finally, Anderson, Psi-Division (which was on part four and finishes this issue) has been a great little tale for the two parts I've read -- the only one I wish I'd been following since the start. I suppose I could always order back issues...
That story that was on part seven last time? I give up. It makes no sense. Maybe if I'd been reading since the start... But no, I'm not wasting my time. It's called Numbercruncher, if you happen to care.
As for the others, to refer to them as I did last time: the Dredd was a two-parter that ends here, though leaves an intriguing Big Thing set up for the future. Look forward to that coming back. The one that was on part two (now three, obviously) is Samizdat Squad, and while I can follow it I don't especially care for it.
Finally, Anderson, Psi-Division (which was on part four and finishes this issue) has been a great little tale for the two parts I've read -- the only one I wish I'd been following since the start. I suppose I could always order back issues...
Articles
Joss Whedon on his secret film of Much Ado About Nothing: 'This is the best vacation I've ever taken' by Adam B. Vary
(from Inside Movies at EW.com)
First interview with Joss (plus stars Sean Maher and Amy Acker) about the just-wrapped/just-announced adaptation. Unsurprisingly, there's a tonne of new details in here.
The Jury returns after nine years in retirement by Vicky Frost
(from the Guardian)
Interview-y article about the Julie Walters-starring second series of The Jury, speaking to Walters and writer Peter Morgan. (Much better than Mark Lawson's faintly embarrassing article, where he goes on about it being a remake when (as numerous commenters point out) it isn't.)
(from Inside Movies at EW.com)
First interview with Joss (plus stars Sean Maher and Amy Acker) about the just-wrapped/just-announced adaptation. Unsurprisingly, there's a tonne of new details in here.
The Jury returns after nine years in retirement by Vicky Frost
(from the Guardian)
Interview-y article about the Julie Walters-starring second series of The Jury, speaking to Walters and writer Peter Morgan. (Much better than Mark Lawson's faintly embarrassing article, where he goes on about it being a remake when (as numerous commenters point out) it isn't.)
Monday, 24 October 2011
TV
Home Cooking Made Easy
1x04 Simple [final episode]
The Jury
Part 5 (of 6)
Part 6 (of 6)
I suppose in a way the verdict was unsurprising, but I'm still glad they reached it. A good final pair of episodes too, generating genuine tension and wrapping everything up satisfactorily -- which, in some cases, meant leaving it ambiguous or unfinished. I don't really understand why this was so ignored at the time and isn't more often mentioned as an example of great British drama, because I think it deserves to be. Looking forward to the sequel, whenever that's on.
Pointless
3x22 (30/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 Simple [final episode]
The Jury
Part 5 (of 6)
Part 6 (of 6)
I suppose in a way the verdict was unsurprising, but I'm still glad they reached it. A good final pair of episodes too, generating genuine tension and wrapping everything up satisfactorily -- which, in some cases, meant leaving it ambiguous or unfinished. I don't really understand why this was so ignored at the time and isn't more often mentioned as an example of great British drama, because I think it deserves to be. Looking forward to the sequel, whenever that's on.
Pointless
3x22 (30/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
Batman and Robin #2 by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
This series is becoming increasingly reliant on the past. I'm sure that's great for long-term readers, but it's not so good as part of (what's supposed to be) a line-wide new-reader-friendly re-launch. I coped with the first issue because I'm vaguely aware of some recent events in the Batman comics universe; this issue, it's really pushing my limit. We'll see how it goes -- I'll stick with it because nasty little git Damien, Bruce Wayne's son, is an interesting (if annoying) loose cannon.
Justice League #2 by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee
It's been a long wait for the second issue of DC's new flagship title -- nearly two months since #1! -- but critics found it worth the wait: after notoriously underwhelming reviews for that first issue, the follow-up has received much better notices. Personally, I enjoyed the first issue, and felt this one maintained the very good standard.
Resurrection Man #2 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Dagnino
While this is still solid, all told I'm not as keen on it as the first issue. Resurrection Man is, I believe, the return of a long-dead series (oh irony), which makes it difficult to know if it's building on stuff from before or kicking off whole new mysteries. Considering the bafflement of the main character, hopefully things will get explained eventually, either way.
This series is becoming increasingly reliant on the past. I'm sure that's great for long-term readers, but it's not so good as part of (what's supposed to be) a line-wide new-reader-friendly re-launch. I coped with the first issue because I'm vaguely aware of some recent events in the Batman comics universe; this issue, it's really pushing my limit. We'll see how it goes -- I'll stick with it because nasty little git Damien, Bruce Wayne's son, is an interesting (if annoying) loose cannon.
Justice League #2 by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee
It's been a long wait for the second issue of DC's new flagship title -- nearly two months since #1! -- but critics found it worth the wait: after notoriously underwhelming reviews for that first issue, the follow-up has received much better notices. Personally, I enjoyed the first issue, and felt this one maintained the very good standard.
Resurrection Man #2 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Dagnino
While this is still solid, all told I'm not as keen on it as the first issue. Resurrection Man is, I believe, the return of a long-dead series (oh irony), which makes it difficult to know if it's building on stuff from before or kicking off whole new mysteries. Considering the bafflement of the main character, hopefully things will get explained eventually, either way.
Articles
Drew Pearce to Write Sequel to As-Yet-Unreleased Sherlock Holmes Sequel by Kate Erbland
(from Film School Rejects)
To clarify, he's writing Sherlock Holmes 3 (as in the, the second sequel to the Downey Jr/Ritchie one). As the article says, "Pearce may very well be your favorite screenwriter whose work you’ve never actually seen" -- he's got several huge films in the offing, none of them yet released. Or even in front of cameras.
Joss Whedon & Nathan Fillion Do Shakespeare by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
Apparently around making The Biggest Blockbuster Ever (Maybe Probably Sort Of), Joss Whedon has found time to gather together a bunch of his chums (cast members from Buffy, Angel, Firefly and possibly others abound) to make a film of Much Ado About Nothing. What? Apparently it's not a hoax either. We'll see...
The official website, such as it is, is here.
Edit: there's a full press release confirming it all to be for real here. (It's also on the official website, but that has added commentary.)
(from Film School Rejects)
To clarify, he's writing Sherlock Holmes 3 (as in the, the second sequel to the Downey Jr/Ritchie one). As the article says, "Pearce may very well be your favorite screenwriter whose work you’ve never actually seen" -- he's got several huge films in the offing, none of them yet released. Or even in front of cameras.
Joss Whedon & Nathan Fillion Do Shakespeare by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
Apparently around making The Biggest Blockbuster Ever (Maybe Probably Sort Of), Joss Whedon has found time to gather together a bunch of his chums (cast members from Buffy, Angel, Firefly and possibly others abound) to make a film of Much Ado About Nothing. What? Apparently it's not a hoax either. We'll see...
The official website, such as it is, is here.
Edit: there's a full press release confirming it all to be for real here. (It's also on the official website, but that has added commentary.)
Sunday, 23 October 2011
TV
Downton Abbey
2x05 Episode 5
Mrs Bates is threatening something! ...but now it's sorted.
Mrs Bates is threatening something again! ...but now it's sorted.
Mrs Bates is threatening something else! ...but now it's sorted.
Time to wrap up the whole Mrs Bates thing, eh?
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
3x21 (29/9/10 edition)
25 people didn't know which war D Day was from?! I despair.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x04 Episode 4
As (most of) the rest of the nation's Spooks fans enjoy the series' last-ever episode, I'm still catching up on this final run. It is good though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
5x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x05 Episode 5
Mrs Bates is threatening something! ...but now it's sorted.
Mrs Bates is threatening something again! ...but now it's sorted.
Mrs Bates is threatening something else! ...but now it's sorted.
Time to wrap up the whole Mrs Bates thing, eh?
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
3x21 (29/9/10 edition)
25 people didn't know which war D Day was from?! I despair.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x04 Episode 4
As (most of) the rest of the nation's Spooks fans enjoy the series' last-ever episode, I'm still catching up on this final run. It is good though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
5x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Batman: Year One (2011)
Tangled (2010)
More next Sunday.
Batman: Year One (2011)
this is a very down-to-Earth version of the Batman story. It’s even less sci-fi-y than Chris Nolan’s much-praised realistic films, in fact. There’s no Batmobile, no Batcave, no Bat signal, only a few gadgets (and those that are used are fully plausible), no cartoonish super-villains… This Gotham is a city where crime comes from gangsters, drug dealers, muggers and a thoroughly corrupt police force, and that’s what Batman sets out to fight.
Tangled (2010)
It’s funny, which is its biggest asset, and exciting at times — as usual, the highly movable camera of CG animation adds fluidity, speed and excitement to the action sequences, [but the] comedic-ish fantasy-kingdom world can come across a bit like lightweight Shrek [and] the songs are distinctly unmemorable
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
TV
Derren Brown: The Experiments
1x01 The Assassin
Brilliant (as ever from Derren), with some perhaps unexpected conclusions. Watching some of the extra video interviews online, it seems even the experts were surprised how things went.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Jonathan Ross Show
1x07 (15/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Jury
Part 4 (of 6)
Merlin
4x04 Aithusa
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x06 Perfect Crime
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
3x20 (28/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x01 The Assassin
Brilliant (as ever from Derren), with some perhaps unexpected conclusions. Watching some of the extra video interviews online, it seems even the experts were surprised how things went.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Jonathan Ross Show
1x07 (15/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Jury
Part 4 (of 6)
Merlin
4x04 Aithusa
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x06 Perfect Crime
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
3x20 (28/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Magazines
New Empress Magazine #3
The latest issue of the quarterly small press film magazine feels practically tailor-made to my interests, with almost every article piquing my curiosity.
After the reviews (of which over half interest me before even reading), there's an interview with the director of the BBFC; an entry in their 'why I hate film' series about the brilliance of TV; pieces on Westerns, going to the cinema by yourself, and the noir cityscape of Blade Runner; retrospectives on Jurassic Park, Casablanca, Bhaji on the Beach, and why Bring It On is actually good; plus a look back at much-underrated miniseries The 10th Kingdom.
There's also an article entitled "How Blu-ray killed the classics", which is interesting even if I disagree with it almost entirely.
(There's other good stuff too, but those were the ones that particularly appealed to me.)
This issue can be ordered online here if you're in the UK. Back issues, subscriptions and internationally-shipping copies are also available from their store.
The latest issue of the quarterly small press film magazine feels practically tailor-made to my interests, with almost every article piquing my curiosity.
After the reviews (of which over half interest me before even reading), there's an interview with the director of the BBFC; an entry in their 'why I hate film' series about the brilliance of TV; pieces on Westerns, going to the cinema by yourself, and the noir cityscape of Blade Runner; retrospectives on Jurassic Park, Casablanca, Bhaji on the Beach, and why Bring It On is actually good; plus a look back at much-underrated miniseries The 10th Kingdom.
There's also an article entitled "How Blu-ray killed the classics", which is interesting even if I disagree with it almost entirely.
(There's other good stuff too, but those were the ones that particularly appealed to me.)
This issue can be ordered online here if you're in the UK. Back issues, subscriptions and internationally-shipping copies are also available from their store.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This post represents the second anniversary of my collection counting. Hurrah!
Interestingly, this time last year I was switching my Back to the Future DVDs for the shiny new Blu-ray set; this year, I've done the same for Jurassic Park. I imagine it'll be Indiana Jones this time next year then, eh.
First up in my round-up is, as ever, the totals as they currently stand, with how they've changed since last week. A couple of DVD-to-BD upgrades leave this lot largely stable.
Number of titles in collection: 1,392 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,139 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 253 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,447 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,473 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,194 [up 26]
Secondly, how have they changed in a year? Well, unsurprisingly, all numbers have gone up -- indeed, the increases for many are even bigger this year than they were last. In a recession? Oops. Here's how they've increased over the last 12 months:
Number of titles in collection: up 166 (13.5%)
Of which DVDs: up 36 (3.3%)
Of which Blu-rays: up 130 (105.7%)
Number of discs in collection: up 440 (14.6%)
Number of films in collection: up 179 (13.8%)
Number of TV episodes in collection: up 914 (21.4%)
The overall increase is only slightly down (three titles fewer), but the increase in DVDs is under half what it was last year. That means Blu-rays make up the difference, the increase there being some 50 titles bigger than last year's. The increase in discs is also around 50 higher than it was last year; there are about 20 fewer new films, but nearly 300 more TV episodes added. Crikey.
Most of the percentage increases are lower than last year, because obviously they were all starting from a higher total. The one exception is TV episodes, thanks to an increase almost 50% bigger than last year's. Crikey.
Finally, and often most spectacularly, the running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
248 days, 22 hours, and 31 minutes
That's up 1 day, 2 hours, and 2 minutes from last month... but what you really want to know is how much it's changed in a whole year, eh?
Well... it's increased 36 days, 15 hours and 33 minutes from last year. That's just over five solid weeks of viewing.
To put it another way, it's grown my collection's running time by 17.3%. And that rise is 12.5% bigger than last year's increase. That'd be all those TV episodes, I guess.
Anyway, that's all. Regular service resumes next week. See you then, faithful reader.
This post represents the second anniversary of my collection counting. Hurrah!
Interestingly, this time last year I was switching my Back to the Future DVDs for the shiny new Blu-ray set; this year, I've done the same for Jurassic Park. I imagine it'll be Indiana Jones this time next year then, eh.
First up in my round-up is, as ever, the totals as they currently stand, with how they've changed since last week. A couple of DVD-to-BD upgrades leave this lot largely stable.
Number of titles in collection: 1,392 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,139 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 253 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,447 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,473 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,194 [up 26]
Secondly, how have they changed in a year? Well, unsurprisingly, all numbers have gone up -- indeed, the increases for many are even bigger this year than they were last. In a recession? Oops. Here's how they've increased over the last 12 months:
Number of titles in collection: up 166 (13.5%)
Of which DVDs: up 36 (3.3%)
Of which Blu-rays: up 130 (105.7%)
Number of discs in collection: up 440 (14.6%)
Number of films in collection: up 179 (13.8%)
Number of TV episodes in collection: up 914 (21.4%)
The overall increase is only slightly down (three titles fewer), but the increase in DVDs is under half what it was last year. That means Blu-rays make up the difference, the increase there being some 50 titles bigger than last year's. The increase in discs is also around 50 higher than it was last year; there are about 20 fewer new films, but nearly 300 more TV episodes added. Crikey.
Most of the percentage increases are lower than last year, because obviously they were all starting from a higher total. The one exception is TV episodes, thanks to an increase almost 50% bigger than last year's. Crikey.
Finally, and often most spectacularly, the running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
248 days, 22 hours, and 31 minutes
That's up 1 day, 2 hours, and 2 minutes from last month... but what you really want to know is how much it's changed in a whole year, eh?
Well... it's increased 36 days, 15 hours and 33 minutes from last year. That's just over five solid weeks of viewing.
To put it another way, it's grown my collection's running time by 17.3%. And that rise is 12.5% bigger than last year's increase. That'd be all those TV episodes, I guess.
Anyway, that's all. Regular service resumes next week. See you then, faithful reader.
Friday, 21 October 2011
TV
The Jury
Part 3 (of 6)
Pointless
3x19 (27/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x06 Inventive (XL edition)
I like Nina Conti, but I'm not sure how well a ventriloquist is suited to a panel show. They had a large section on ventriloquists, at least... most of which was cut out of the regular episode. Another tick in the box for XL editions, then.
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Top Gear USA
1x01 Episode 1
It's not as good as the original British version -- the presenters are a bit weak, and certainly don't have the same camaraderie/rivalry as our lot; it's not as well made, either, lacking the slickness of direction the British one often shows -- but for all those faults it's a surprisingly entertaining re-make of the format.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 3 (of 6)
Pointless
3x19 (27/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x06 Inventive (XL edition)
I like Nina Conti, but I'm not sure how well a ventriloquist is suited to a panel show. They had a large section on ventriloquists, at least... most of which was cut out of the regular episode. Another tick in the box for XL editions, then.
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Top Gear USA
1x01 Episode 1
It's not as good as the original British version -- the presenters are a bit weak, and certainly don't have the same camaraderie/rivalry as our lot; it's not as well made, either, lacking the slickness of direction the British one often shows -- but for all those faults it's a surprisingly entertaining re-make of the format.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #1752
For this Prog, ECBT 2000AD added a new section to their regular reviews line-up, an initial-impressions art-only review. After that, the regular reviews are...
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Downtime
Ampney Crucis Investigates... The English Assassin Part Three
Indigo Prime Everything and More Part Three
Angel Zero Part 02
Low Life The Deal Part 3 The Dredd story this Prog seems to have been quite controversial among some of 2000 AD's readership (or maybe it's just one being vocally annoyed, I dunno) -- it's a one-shot in the middle of the big on-going Day of Chaos storyline -- but it also seems the majority side with it being a highly effective little tale looking at Dredd's current place in his world. With which I wholeheartedly agree. (Also, reading comments on this reminds me I'm still around four weeks behind with my reading. Ugh.)
Indigo Prime, on the other hand, is so befuddling and long-term-readers-only-y that it's the first Thrill I've seriously considered just skipping since I started reading.
For this Prog, ECBT 2000AD added a new section to their regular reviews line-up, an initial-impressions art-only review. After that, the regular reviews are...
Indigo Prime, on the other hand, is so befuddling and long-term-readers-only-y that it's the first Thrill I've seriously considered just skipping since I started reading.
Articles
Squirrelling Out Details On Watchmen 2 by Rich Johnston
(from Bleeding Cool)
Looks like it's happening after all, perhaps as a series of prequel stories. Hm. Well, at least prequels would be better than sequels: there's a gap in the Watchmen universe for stories from their costumed-heroics days, whereas a sequel would have to get all kinds of dealing-with-what-happened-y.
(from Bleeding Cool)
Looks like it's happening after all, perhaps as a series of prequel stories. Hm. Well, at least prequels would be better than sequels: there's a gap in the Watchmen universe for stories from their costumed-heroics days, whereas a sequel would have to get all kinds of dealing-with-what-happened-y.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
TV
Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey
Episode 1 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Jury
Part 2 (of 6)
This is almost 10 years old now, which makes it an interesting one for considering how TV drama has changed in the last decade. In many respects, not much -- it doesn't feel as old as a 10-year-old drama felt as little as three or four years ago, I don't think. In terms of things like camerawork, acting, pace, and so on, I wouldn't be surprised if this was new. You wouldn't get that similarity if you compared a production from 1991 to one from 2001.
That said, there are chunks of the story you'd have to change if making it now. Take the juror who's spent two episodes searching for someone he used to know, for instance: never mind phoning round old friends and employers, now he'd get her in a few seconds on Facebook. But these a minor points (and there aren't many of them) compared to that general stylistic one.
Spy
1x01 Codename: Loser
An original comedy… on Sky?! Starring someone from (ugh) My Family?! Oh dear.
But no, not oh dear -- it's actually really good. Because to say Robert Lindsay is "from My Family" is to underrate him; and it actually stars Darren Boyd, who's had supporting roles in all kinds of things for ages and deserves a lead role; and there's The One You Remember From Horrible Histories to provide some able support. Super.
Episode 1 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Jury
Part 2 (of 6)
This is almost 10 years old now, which makes it an interesting one for considering how TV drama has changed in the last decade. In many respects, not much -- it doesn't feel as old as a 10-year-old drama felt as little as three or four years ago, I don't think. In terms of things like camerawork, acting, pace, and so on, I wouldn't be surprised if this was new. You wouldn't get that similarity if you compared a production from 1991 to one from 2001.
That said, there are chunks of the story you'd have to change if making it now. Take the juror who's spent two episodes searching for someone he used to know, for instance: never mind phoning round old friends and employers, now he'd get her in a few seconds on Facebook. But these a minor points (and there aren't many of them) compared to that general stylistic one.
Spy
1x01 Codename: Loser
An original comedy… on Sky?! Starring someone from (ugh) My Family?! Oh dear.
But no, not oh dear -- it's actually really good. Because to say Robert Lindsay is "from My Family" is to underrate him; and it actually stars Darren Boyd, who's had supporting roles in all kinds of things for ages and deserves a lead role; and there's The One You Remember From Horrible Histories to provide some able support. Super.
Articles
Akira? A caricature, more like by Ben Child
(from Film Blog at the Guardian)
On why the US remake of Akira is a bad idea. It's not a fundamentally impossible proposition, but the way they're going about it -- with a hack director and Z-list cast -- is what will kill it.
Cool Tintin Concept Art by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire)
What it says on the tin.
(from Film Blog at the Guardian)
On why the US remake of Akira is a bad idea. It's not a fundamentally impossible proposition, but the way they're going about it -- with a hack director and Z-list cast -- is what will kill it.
Cool Tintin Concept Art by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire)
What it says on the tin.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
TV
The Great British Bake Off
2x10 Masterclass Part 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Mock the Week
10x12 (13/10/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x18 (24/9/10 edition)
For some reason the BBC have abandoned the current series of Pointless mid-way to delve back two series to an apparently random point in series three, with episodes originally aired a little over a year ago. What's interesting is how different it all looks... but only slightly. The set and structure have clearly been slightly tweaked at some point (possibly when it made the move from BBC Two to BBC One) -- it's not massively different, but sort of subtly, uncannily so.
But hey, I've never seen these episodes, so it's got all the same play-along-at-home fun as a brand new one would.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x10 Masterclass Part 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Mock the Week
10x12 (13/10/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x18 (24/9/10 edition)
For some reason the BBC have abandoned the current series of Pointless mid-way to delve back two series to an apparently random point in series three, with episodes originally aired a little over a year ago. What's interesting is how different it all looks... but only slightly. The set and structure have clearly been slightly tweaked at some point (possibly when it made the move from BBC Two to BBC One) -- it's not massively different, but sort of subtly, uncannily so.
But hey, I've never seen these episodes, so it's got all the same play-along-at-home fun as a brand new one would.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
It's new comics day! So while I wait for Forbidden Planet to get round to sending mine, and then wait for them to get round to arriving ("Saturday at best" is the usual time frame), it makes sense to read some of those late-arrivals I haven't got round to from the last fortnight of releases...
Animal Man #2 by Jeff Lemire & Travel Foreman
The villains and their crimes are horribly gruesome in this, but then I guess it's a horror comic (well, a superhero-horror comic) so it goes with the territory. The stuff with Buddy's family is brilliant though, giving it a completely different tone to most superhero books. It's not just a surface "this hero has a family!" schtick either, but one that Lemire is using really well as part of his story. You may remember that the first issue was a surprise sell-out hit, and I see no reason why that won't continue.
Though why one character is called Reg in dialogue but clearly has a name badge saying "Ned", I don't know.
Batgirl #2 by Gail Simone & Ardian Syaf
You may recall I wasn't massively enamoured with the first issue of Batgirl (unlike many a fangirl/boy, apparently), but I was intrigued enough by the villain to keep reading. This issue was much better, I felt, in large part again thanks to the villain -- Batgirl herself is too repetitive, especially in the over-recapping of the first issue at the start. I'll stick with this until the end of this arc, to find out what happens with said villain, but I imagine I'll drop it then.
(And one of these days I'll get round to my backlog of CLiNT -- it puts my piles of unread 2000 ADs & Megazines to shame.)
Animal Man #2 by Jeff Lemire & Travel Foreman
The villains and their crimes are horribly gruesome in this, but then I guess it's a horror comic (well, a superhero-horror comic) so it goes with the territory. The stuff with Buddy's family is brilliant though, giving it a completely different tone to most superhero books. It's not just a surface "this hero has a family!" schtick either, but one that Lemire is using really well as part of his story. You may remember that the first issue was a surprise sell-out hit, and I see no reason why that won't continue.
Though why one character is called Reg in dialogue but clearly has a name badge saying "Ned", I don't know.
Batgirl #2 by Gail Simone & Ardian Syaf
You may recall I wasn't massively enamoured with the first issue of Batgirl (unlike many a fangirl/boy, apparently), but I was intrigued enough by the villain to keep reading. This issue was much better, I felt, in large part again thanks to the villain -- Batgirl herself is too repetitive, especially in the over-recapping of the first issue at the start. I'll stick with this until the end of this arc, to find out what happens with said villain, but I imagine I'll drop it then.
(And one of these days I'll get round to my backlog of CLiNT -- it puts my piles of unread 2000 ADs & Megazines to shame.)
Articles
Review of Batman #2 by Ryan K. Lindsay
(from Comic Book Resources)
A second absolutely glowing five-star review for Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo's Batman book. Look forward to getting my copy sometime in the next 8+ days, then, depending on how efficient Forbidden Planet are feeling.
Five new DC Comics #1s recommended for movie lovers by Matt Singer
(from IFC)
We're over halfway through the #2s now, so this article is perhaps a little late to the party, but it's still a slightly different angle to look at The New 52 from.
(from Comic Book Resources)
A second absolutely glowing five-star review for Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo's Batman book. Look forward to getting my copy sometime in the next 8+ days, then, depending on how efficient Forbidden Planet are feeling.
Five new DC Comics #1s recommended for movie lovers by Matt Singer
(from IFC)
We're over halfway through the #2s now, so this article is perhaps a little late to the party, but it's still a slightly different angle to look at The New 52 from.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
TV
Ask Rhod Gilbert
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Jury
Part 1 (of 6) [2nd watch]
I watched this first episode when it first aired way back in 2002, but I don't think I got any further with it. It's actually pretty good, so I don't know why. It's also packed with familiar faces, some who were well known at the time but others who've gone on to be movie stars and the like in the decade since. Anyway, ITV3 are repeating the whole series this week before a new version/second series begins on ITV1 sometime -- what a good opportunity to give it another go.
Pointless
5x35 (14/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Jury
Part 1 (of 6) [2nd watch]
I watched this first episode when it first aired way back in 2002, but I don't think I got any further with it. It's actually pretty good, so I don't know why. It's also packed with familiar faces, some who were well known at the time but others who've gone on to be movie stars and the like in the decade since. Anyway, ITV3 are repeating the whole series this week before a new version/second series begins on ITV1 sometime -- what a good opportunity to give it another go.
Pointless
5x35 (14/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
Judge Dredd Megazine #312
I decided that 32 pages of 2000 AD a week just wasn't providing enough Thrill-power for me (how behind I've got put paid to that theory, eh... but shh! I've got this now!), so I started picking up the Megazine too. (Well, I subscribed to both, but shh again!) Not as neat a jumping-on point as Prog 1740's (and 1750's) all-new stories... but, as has been widely noted amongst Squaxx dek Thargo (oh yeah, I'm totally gettin' the lingo at this point), that wasn't that great a starting point either: though 1740's stories were all Part Ones, most built on preceding arcs. So having worked out what was going on for the sake of that, I felt sure I could manage for the Megazine too.
And it works out OK: the Dredd story begins this issue, so that's no problem; another strip is only on part two and easy to pick up; another is on part seven but could be just beginning for all I can tell (I really don't see what it's done for six parts if it's all been this story); and the final tale, on its fourth instalment, has a nice little recap that gets me completely up to speed. And all the articles are, of course, self-contained. Dandy.
Plus, the Megazine comes with a free reprint graphic novel every issue! Never mind what came with this one, the next issue's (and three after that, all of which have been published now) collects a strip I remember from when I used to read 2000 AD some time in my past (10, 15 years ago?) So that's kinda awesome.
I decided that 32 pages of 2000 AD a week just wasn't providing enough Thrill-power for me (how behind I've got put paid to that theory, eh... but shh! I've got this now!), so I started picking up the Megazine too. (Well, I subscribed to both, but shh again!) Not as neat a jumping-on point as Prog 1740's (and 1750's) all-new stories... but, as has been widely noted amongst Squaxx dek Thargo (oh yeah, I'm totally gettin' the lingo at this point), that wasn't that great a starting point either: though 1740's stories were all Part Ones, most built on preceding arcs. So having worked out what was going on for the sake of that, I felt sure I could manage for the Megazine too.
And it works out OK: the Dredd story begins this issue, so that's no problem; another strip is only on part two and easy to pick up; another is on part seven but could be just beginning for all I can tell (I really don't see what it's done for six parts if it's all been this story); and the final tale, on its fourth instalment, has a nice little recap that gets me completely up to speed. And all the articles are, of course, self-contained. Dandy.
Plus, the Megazine comes with a free reprint graphic novel every issue! Never mind what came with this one, the next issue's (and three after that, all of which have been published now) collects a strip I remember from when I used to read 2000 AD some time in my past (10, 15 years ago?) So that's kinda awesome.
Articles
Rooney Mara: Playing with Fire by Jonathan Van Meter
(from Vouge.com)
Profile/interview of Rooney Mara and David Fincher about, of course, the forthcoming Girl with the Dragon Tattoo re-adaptation. Interesting piece it is too.
(from Vouge.com)
Profile/interview of Rooney Mara and David Fincher about, of course, the forthcoming Girl with the Dragon Tattoo re-adaptation. Interesting piece it is too.
Monday, 17 October 2011
TV
Have I Got News For You
42x01 (14/10/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Home Cooking Made Easy
1x03 Entertaining
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x02 Transplant
They've clearly decided to build House's new status quo relatively slowly. How many of the cast will be back? It seems only time will tell... or online spoilers if one went hunting, I suppose.
How to Win in the Den
Episode 3 The Idea (of 4)
Every episode in this series seems to have a different on-screen title to the one listed online; and every time a category comes up narrator Richard Bacon seems to say something different to what's written on screen. Why?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
2x03 Episode 3
The first series of Misfits was good, but crikey, this one knocks it out of the park! If you're still not watching it I heartily recommend you try to catch up before series three starts.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
42x01 (14/10/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Home Cooking Made Easy
1x03 Entertaining
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x02 Transplant
They've clearly decided to build House's new status quo relatively slowly. How many of the cast will be back? It seems only time will tell... or online spoilers if one went hunting, I suppose.
How to Win in the Den
Episode 3 The Idea (of 4)
Every episode in this series seems to have a different on-screen title to the one listed online; and every time a category comes up narrator Richard Bacon seems to say something different to what's written on screen. Why?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
2x03 Episode 3
The first series of Misfits was good, but crikey, this one knocks it out of the park! If you're still not watching it I heartily recommend you try to catch up before series three starts.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Comics
Action Comics #2 by Grant Morrison, Rags Morales & Brent Anderson
I never imagined I'd find myself reading a Superman book -- I tend to find him a bit too goody-goody and American with a capital A -- but the first issue of Action Comics was so praised I decided to give it a go, and it was so good here I am. And this is great too. By taking Superman back to his early days Morrison has mixed things up, making him a more interesting character, and telling more exciting stories featuring him. Morales' artwork compliments it all perfectly. Much to my surprise, I'm really enjoying this one.
Plus, this issue, a behind-the-scenes look at Morrison & Morales' method on these first two issues (almost worth the price of admission on its own) and a preview of forthcoming original graphic novel Batman: Noel, which gives you no idea about the story but looks absolutely beautiful.
I never imagined I'd find myself reading a Superman book -- I tend to find him a bit too goody-goody and American with a capital A -- but the first issue of Action Comics was so praised I decided to give it a go, and it was so good here I am. And this is great too. By taking Superman back to his early days Morrison has mixed things up, making him a more interesting character, and telling more exciting stories featuring him. Morales' artwork compliments it all perfectly. Much to my surprise, I'm really enjoying this one.
Plus, this issue, a behind-the-scenes look at Morrison & Morales' method on these first two issues (almost worth the price of admission on its own) and a preview of forthcoming original graphic novel Batman: Noel, which gives you no idea about the story but looks absolutely beautiful.
Articles
X Factor suffers ratings stumble
(from BBC News)
(from BBC News)
ITV1's X Factor has failed to win the primetime head-to-head battle with BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night for a second week running.Ha ha.
...The overnight figures suggest that audiences waited for the end of Strictly Come Dancing before turning over to watch X Factor.... more than half of viewers had switched off by the... final 15 minutes of the show...
Average ratings for the programme also fell this week... Figures are also down from this time last year
Sunday, 16 October 2011
TV
Downton Abbey
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
How to Win in the Den
Episode 2 The Art of Negotiation (of 4)
That being the Dragons' Den (as I mentioned last time), obviously.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x34 (13/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
How to Win in the Den
Episode 2 The Art of Negotiation (of 4)
That being the Dragons' Den (as I mentioned last time), obviously.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x34 (13/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
[#86 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
You may think it's called Battle: Los Angeles, as that was on all the posters and reviews and DVD covers and stuff, but no, no colon to be seen anywhere in the film itself.
That Touch of Mink (1962)
[#87 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
[#86 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
You may think it's called Battle: Los Angeles, as that was on all the posters and reviews and DVD covers and stuff, but no, no colon to be seen anywhere in the film itself.
That Touch of Mink (1962)
[#87 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff (2010)
Sucker Punch: Extended Cut (2011)
More next Sunday.
Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff (2010)
My overriding memory of the documentary is of a slew of beautiful-looking films, some well known and others not, but every one jumping onto want-to-see lists thanks to what’s shown here. Which just demonstrates how deserving Cardiff and his work are of a dedicated feature film of this quality.
Sucker Punch: Extended Cut (2011)
had I seen Sucker Punch in cinemas, would I feel the same way I do now? Would those big omissions have obscured the thematic depth I believe is there? To put it another way, how much do the changes really add? ... I do think Sucker Punch has been underrated. It’s not the masterpiece I hoped it might be when I first noticed the themes Snyder was (consciously or not) tapping in to, but do I think it’s a lot better and more interesting than most gave it credit for.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
TV
The Jonathan Ross Show
1x06 (8/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x03 The Wicked Day
Well, that answers that long-standing query... though I won't say which cos, y'know, spoilers.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
5x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x06 (8/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x03 The Wicked Day
Well, that answers that long-standing query... though I won't say which cos, y'know, spoilers.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
5x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Batman: Year One (2011)
[#85 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
DC Showcase: Catwoman (2011)
[#85a in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
[#85 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
DC Showcase: Catwoman (2011)
[#85a in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Comics
2000 AD #1751
This Prog's ECBT 2000AD reviews:
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction Part Two
Ampney Crucis Investigates... The English Assassin Part Two
Indigo Prime Everything and More Part Two
Angel Zero Part 01
Low Life The Deal Part 2
Daredevil #4 by Mark Waid & Marcos Martín
After a bit of a dip last issue, things are back on form this week. It kicks off a new story, with a great plot -- set mainly in Matt Murdock's attorney life, as it happens -- and some fantastic action sequences in his Daredevil one. Artist Marcos Martin delivers some absolutely stunning panels too, as well as a generally high standard of storytelling. I believe the book is switching back and forth between him and Paolo Rivera (who drew the first three issues) and they seem to have very complimentary styles.
For even more glowing praise, see CBR's 4½-star review.
This Prog's ECBT 2000AD reviews:
Daredevil #4 by Mark Waid & Marcos Martín
After a bit of a dip last issue, things are back on form this week. It kicks off a new story, with a great plot -- set mainly in Matt Murdock's attorney life, as it happens -- and some fantastic action sequences in his Daredevil one. Artist Marcos Martin delivers some absolutely stunning panels too, as well as a generally high standard of storytelling. I believe the book is switching back and forth between him and Paolo Rivera (who drew the first three issues) and they seem to have very complimentary styles.
For even more glowing praise, see CBR's 4½-star review.
Friday, 14 October 2011
TV
Pointless
5x33 (12/10/11 edition)
Round on Stanley Kubrick films -- I managed to name all but one, including the only one that was pointless. Hurrah me!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x05 Invertebrates (XL edition)
As per usual, loads of great stuff only in the XL version. If you like QI and don't watch it, more fool you.
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
5x33 (12/10/11 edition)
Round on Stanley Kubrick films -- I managed to name all but one, including the only one that was pointless. Hurrah me!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x05 Invertebrates (XL edition)
As per usual, loads of great stuff only in the XL version. If you like QI and don't watch it, more fool you.
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Blast Off! – Quatermass by James Oliver
and
Hamlet / King Lear by Michael Brooke
(from MovieMail)
The latest MovieMail catalogue/magazine dropped through my door today (view online here, download here). It's filled as ever with loads of interesting bits and pieces, but these two especially caught my eye and are available on the website in full (and in that PDF catalogue, of course).
Film Franchises, then and now by James Oliver
(from MovieMail)
...and there's also this, from a previous MovieMail catalogue. Another interesting bit (of course, otherwise why would I be sharing it).
Sky urged to waive BBC transmission fees by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
I was going to quote from this, but the whole article is quite interesting. Long and the short of it: the BBC should pull all their services from Sky (thereby saving £50m over five years and so being able to pay for radio stations and BBC Four), and watch Sky struggle without them. It's not going to kill Sky to not have them as any viewers could still pick up BBC over their aerial... of course, they might decide to switch to Virgin instead, which would be even more fun if it led to Sky losing money.
Even better, the article notes that ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 get a bad deal from Sky too -- imagine if all the terrestrial channels pulled out! Oh, we can but dream...
and
Hamlet / King Lear by Michael Brooke
(from MovieMail)
The latest MovieMail catalogue/magazine dropped through my door today (view online here, download here). It's filled as ever with loads of interesting bits and pieces, but these two especially caught my eye and are available on the website in full (and in that PDF catalogue, of course).
Film Franchises, then and now by James Oliver
(from MovieMail)
...and there's also this, from a previous MovieMail catalogue. Another interesting bit (of course, otherwise why would I be sharing it).
Sky urged to waive BBC transmission fees by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
I was going to quote from this, but the whole article is quite interesting. Long and the short of it: the BBC should pull all their services from Sky (thereby saving £50m over five years and so being able to pay for radio stations and BBC Four), and watch Sky struggle without them. It's not going to kill Sky to not have them as any viewers could still pick up BBC over their aerial... of course, they might decide to switch to Virgin instead, which would be even more fun if it led to Sky losing money.
Even better, the article notes that ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 get a bad deal from Sky too -- imagine if all the terrestrial channels pulled out! Oh, we can but dream...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Normally this would be the next running time update, but I'll be including that next week instead -- for Collection Count's second anniversary! Wow!
This week, then, a CD bonus DVD; a 15th anniversary BD of a film I've never seen and, by being reminded it's 15, really feel I should have; and a US BD that's not even out in the US until Tuesday! MovieTyme are my new favourite website for that one.
Number of titles in collection: 1,391 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,141 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 250 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 3,443 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,472 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,168 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Normally this would be the next running time update, but I'll be including that next week instead -- for Collection Count's second anniversary! Wow!
This week, then, a CD bonus DVD; a 15th anniversary BD of a film I've never seen and, by being reminded it's 15, really feel I should have; and a US BD that's not even out in the US until Tuesday! MovieTyme are my new favourite website for that one.
Number of titles in collection: 1,391 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,141 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 250 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 3,443 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,472 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,168 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
TV
The A to Z of Crime
Episode 6 UVWXYZ (of 6)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Billy Connolly's Route 66
Episode 4 (of 4)
Really enjoyed this series. If you didn't see it, I recommend you find a way to catch it (it's all still on ITV Player, but only just), especially if you have any interest in America.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Mock the Week
10x11 (6/10/11 edition)
This week's and next week's Radio Times seem insistent on labelling episode 12, the final episode, as episode 11 of 11. What?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x05 Perfect Jealousy
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
5x32 (11/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Episode 6 UVWXYZ (of 6)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Billy Connolly's Route 66
Episode 4 (of 4)
Really enjoyed this series. If you didn't see it, I recommend you find a way to catch it (it's all still on ITV Player, but only just), especially if you have any interest in America.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Mock the Week
10x11 (6/10/11 edition)
This week's and next week's Radio Times seem insistent on labelling episode 12, the final episode, as episode 11 of 11. What?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x05 Perfect Jealousy
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
5x32 (11/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Music
Evanescence by Evanescence
I'd been unsure about bothering to get this, but then the reviews seemed decent. Suffice to say, despite five years since their last album and eight since their debut, not to mention numerous line-up changes, Evanescence still sound like Evanescence. Which has its pros and cons.
I'd been unsure about bothering to get this, but then the reviews seemed decent. Suffice to say, despite five years since their last album and eight since their debut, not to mention numerous line-up changes, Evanescence still sound like Evanescence. Which has its pros and cons.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
TV
The Great British Bake Off
2x09 Masterclass Part 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x31 (10/10/11 edition)
When asked to name languages the 2011 census was available in, more people said Polish than English. The Daily Mail would have a field day with that...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x09 Masterclass Part 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x31 (10/10/11 edition)
When asked to name languages the 2011 census was available in, more people said Polish than English. The Daily Mail would have a field day with that...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
It's new comics day! Except the perils of mail-ordering leaves me with these two just-arrived issues from last week's new comics, plus there's a variety of others I'm still bloody waiting for.
But hey, I'll get today's new lot on Saturday... if I'm lucky. It might be next Tuesday. Or next Wednesday. Or, based on this week, next Thursday. I ought to seek out a proper bricks-and-mortar shop...
Animal Man #1 by Jeff Lemire & Travel Foreman
[2nd read]
My physical copy finally turned up, so this is a more-attentive-to-the-art print re-read. My first-reading thoughts are here.
Detective Comics #2 by Tony S. Daniel
This book seems to be receiving quite a mixed response, from the little I've read of general reaction, but I'm enjoying it. Some have complained that the Joker doesn't feature this issue, despite the first one's cliffhanger, but I think there's a bigger game at play here and it'll be interesting when he re-emerges.
But hey, I'll get today's new lot on Saturday... if I'm lucky. It might be next Tuesday. Or next Wednesday. Or, based on this week, next Thursday. I ought to seek out a proper bricks-and-mortar shop...
Animal Man #1 by Jeff Lemire & Travel Foreman
[2nd read]
My physical copy finally turned up, so this is a more-attentive-to-the-art print re-read. My first-reading thoughts are here.
Detective Comics #2 by Tony S. Daniel
This book seems to be receiving quite a mixed response, from the little I've read of general reaction, but I'm enjoying it. Some have complained that the Joker doesn't feature this issue, despite the first one's cliffhanger, but I think there's a bigger game at play here and it'll be interesting when he re-emerges.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
TV
Ask Rhod Gilbert
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x01 Twenty Vicodin
It's always great to have House back, and always fun seeing him in a new situation (this time, prison)... though the episode ends without ending. What happens next, gorramit?! Desperately looking forward to the next one now... which I believe was on last night in the US, so... well...
Mark Lawson Talks To
Rob Brydon
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
2x01 Episode 1
2x02 Episode 2
Time flies -- I've been meaning to get round to this ever since it was on. Not sure exactly when that was, but the last time I watched an episode was last decade. Anyway, series three's on its way soon, so it seemed time to get a wriggle on. And it's just as good as it always was, so that's good, and now with added Mystery too.
[Watch episodes one and two (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
5x30 (7/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x01 Twenty Vicodin
It's always great to have House back, and always fun seeing him in a new situation (this time, prison)... though the episode ends without ending. What happens next, gorramit?! Desperately looking forward to the next one now... which I believe was on last night in the US, so... well...
Mark Lawson Talks To
Rob Brydon
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
2x01 Episode 1
2x02 Episode 2
Time flies -- I've been meaning to get round to this ever since it was on. Not sure exactly when that was, but the last time I watched an episode was last decade. Anyway, series three's on its way soon, so it seemed time to get a wriggle on. And it's just as good as it always was, so that's good, and now with added Mystery too.
[Watch episodes one and two (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
5x30 (7/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 10 October 2011
TV
Dragons' Den
9x10 Episode 10 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Epic Win
1x03 Episode 3
Crikey, I didn't realise how long it had been since I last bothered to watch this. It's hardly taxing -- at all --, but it has a kind of charm.
Grand Designs Australia
1x09 Indented Head House [season finale]
Mmm, home cinema...
Home Cooking Made Easy
1x02 Favourites
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
9x10 Episode 10 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Epic Win
1x03 Episode 3
Crikey, I didn't realise how long it had been since I last bothered to watch this. It's hardly taxing -- at all --, but it has a kind of charm.
Grand Designs Australia
1x09 Indented Head House [season finale]
Mmm, home cinema...
Home Cooking Made Easy
1x02 Favourites
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 9 October 2011
TV
Downton Abbey
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Great British Bake Off
2x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x29 (6/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Great British Bake Off
2x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x29 (6/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Life on Mars Russian remake will move '70s action from Manchester to Moscow by Ben Dowell & Shiv Malik
(from guardian.co.uk)
This sounds as interesting as the Spanish version did, but as that never made it over here I doubt this will either.
(from guardian.co.uk)
This sounds as interesting as the Spanish version did, but as that never made it over here I doubt this will either.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Browncoats: Redemption (2010)
A Study in Terror (1965)
More next Sunday.
Browncoats: Redemption (2010)
It's quite understandable if you haven't heard of Browncoats: Redemption. In short, it's an officially-okayed Firefly/Serenity fan film for the benefit of charity. There's no doubting the enthusiasm and heart of the cast & crew of Redemption — on those factors they score a perfect 5 — but as a film in its own right... well...
A Study in Terror (1965)
it’s a decent Holmes movie, with an atmospheric rendering of Victorian London and a passably intriguing plot. However, the relatively light basis in the true story of Jack the Ripper may grate with some who approach it from that angle: there’s a Holmesian plot grafted onto a smattering of Ripper facts
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
TV
The Jonathan Ross Show
1x05 (1/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x02 The Darkest Hour Part Two
Didn't expect that development! I mean, if this wasn't a series based in long-established myths, then obviously that character was being positioned for that fate in this two-parter... but it is based in long-established myths, so I was surprised. Well done Merlin.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x28 (5/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x04 Indecision (XL edition)
All that stuff about "chick sexing" was far more hilarious than it had any right to be.
Smallville
10x18 Booster
Regular readers may be aware that I don't watch Smallville, so what's this doing here? Well, I did watch it when it began, about a decade ago, but I happened to see that this episode featured Booster Gold, one of DC's most irritating heroes, so was quite curious. From the little I know they certainly seem to have captured his character -- i.e. he was suitably irritating. I was a little surprised to discover just how many other DC characters they've stuffed into it over the years, considering the stripped-back start it came from. Fan-pleasing, I guess.
More interesting than any of that, though, was that this episode was made within the past year but looked just like all those US SF/F series from the late '90s/early '00s. I guess it never transcended its roots in that era.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x05 (1/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x02 The Darkest Hour Part Two
Didn't expect that development! I mean, if this wasn't a series based in long-established myths, then obviously that character was being positioned for that fate in this two-parter... but it is based in long-established myths, so I was surprised. Well done Merlin.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x28 (5/10/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x04 Indecision (XL edition)
All that stuff about "chick sexing" was far more hilarious than it had any right to be.
Smallville
10x18 Booster
Regular readers may be aware that I don't watch Smallville, so what's this doing here? Well, I did watch it when it began, about a decade ago, but I happened to see that this episode featured Booster Gold, one of DC's most irritating heroes, so was quite curious. From the little I know they certainly seem to have captured his character -- i.e. he was suitably irritating. I was a little surprised to discover just how many other DC characters they've stuffed into it over the years, considering the stripped-back start it came from. Fan-pleasing, I guess.
More interesting than any of that, though, was that this episode was made within the past year but looked just like all those US SF/F series from the late '90s/early '00s. I guess it never transcended its roots in that era.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)